Porter's Baptism

This has been a busy, fun, emotional week.  Porter was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  What a special day. 

We took these pictures a couple weeks ago to use for his invitations to his baptism.  

We are so proud of Porter.  He has really prepared for his baptism.  It was such a beautiful day with friends and family. 

Here he is getting ready.  He looks so grown up.

The proud little sisters.

Grandma Teri and Grandpa Ryan.  We had both of Porter's Grandparents here.  Allen's parents came from California, they are helping to direct people in so we didn't get a before picture with them.

Allen and Porter.  So handsome!  This is one of my favorite pictures, they look so much alike.

Porter and Aunt Rachel.  Thanks for coming all the way from Idaho Rach!

We had so many family and friends that made this day so special.  We came back to our house to have cake and icecream.  Porter received many sweet gifts, including, his own scriptures with his name on it.

Then the little kids decided it was time for some "Rock band".  So cute.

We had a great time with Allen's parents.  They came for an extended weekend.  Having them here for the baptism meant a lot to us and to Porter.  We wish they could have stayed longer!  We didn't want to send them back to California!

 Sidney, Rylee, and Grandma watching a movie.

Grandma and Grandpa boxing on the wii!  They were very good.  Don't worry we put the kids to bed so the adults could have a turn!

Porter loved playing Monopoly with Grandpa.  What a fun day.

Porter, we are so proud of you!

It's GREAT to be EIGHT

Well it has happened!  This cute boy is 8!  He has been so excited and keeps saying, "I just can't believe I am 8."  Well bud, I can't believe it either.  I am excited for you to grow up and experience new things, but I also want to hold on to the little you forever.  Dad and I were so excited to have you join our family 8 years ago.  There were some complications and we weren't sure we would get you here safe and sound.  But on February 25, 2001 at 9:30pm you were born weighing 6 pounds 11 ounces and you were as healthy as could be.  I have been hopelessly in love ever since.

Don't mind the small girl in the Krispy Kreme's hat.  We took doughnuts in to Porter's class today and the lady at the shop gave Rylee a hat.  Apparently she is really into hats and wore it the whole day.  We couldn't even get her to take it off for a picture.  Thanks doughnut lady.

Speaking of girls wearing things ALL day.  Check out Sid's "hands free" ear piece!  Allen worked from home today and had his on for a conference call, he gave her the other one to try on and that is where it stayed.

The BEST Birthday Poster from the BEST cousins ever!!  Thanks!

Porter started off with a pancake breakfast with birthday candles.  Then off to school.  Allen surprised him and came to school for lunch.  Sidney, Rylee, and I brought in treats for his class.  Then home for presents and cake and off to Red Robin for dinner with Grandma and Grandpa!  What a fun day.

So now we enter the world of cub scouts.  Porter is so excited.  We were invited to the Blue and Gold banquet a couple days before his birthday.  All the boys were making a dessert to share.  Porter wanted to make cupcakes.  Here he is doing all the work himself.  He really enjoyed getting to do everything and we had a lot of fun doing it together. 

We're off with our cupcakes and new scout uniform!

A couple of fun things about Porter.  He weighs 54 pounds and is 49 inches tall.   He likes star wars, transformers, legos, and nerf shooters.  His best friend at school is Gage.  He likes 2nd grade.  He loves to ride his bike and jump on the trampoline.  He likes to play the nintendo wii.  He can play almost every song on Guitar Hero on the medium level extremely well, it's really fun to watch!  He is great buddies with his Dad and loves to do anything with him.  He loves to play sports, football, soccer, basketball....pretty much all sports.  He is so much fun to be around and his sisters think he is the greatest.  So do I.  I love you sweet Porter, Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Happy Birthday, Babe!  Wow another year and you just keep getting better :)  We had fun celebrating Allen's birthday.  He worked from home so we made him breakfast, took him out to lunch, opened presents, and then we had a babysitter come over and we went out to a great dinner together.  

Every time we go out I remember how much I love spending time with you.  Just you.  You are truly my best friend.  I love laughing together when things get crazy around here.  I am totally in love with you.  You think you said it first, well I felt it first.  Thanks for being such a great Dad to our three cute kids who adore you.  I can't blame them.  But most of all thanks for being my husband and the love of my life.

Let's get on with some pictures of my 35 year old husband in action.  

I love you Allen, Happy Birthday!

Bowling Party

Our Porter will turn 8 years old next week!  We have a busy week so we decided to have his party with friends on the Saturday before.  No objections from Porter, it really just makes his birthday that much longer.

We had a bowling party with 4 cute boys and one little sister, Sidney.  Porter was so nice to let her bowl with them.  After a few tears because she would have to bowl last in the group, we were ready to go!

Allen gave them all a few pointers and rules on safety and then happily joined in the line up when one of the boys couldn't make it!

Sidney's bowling went a little like this.  Luckily they have a ramp 

you can use just incase your little body can't heave the 

ball down the lane fast enough.  Those cute boys cheered

for her every time, she was so proud of herself!!

Porter had a great time.  He started

out with some good form, but ended up like this!

We had pizza, cupcakes, presents, and bowling! So much fun!  This picture says it all!!

Star of the Week

Porter was Star of the Week in school.  He was so excited and it is quite the production.  

We decorated his "All about Me" poster.  I learned that his favorite color is blue, his favorite food is pizza, and he wants to be a ninja when he grows up.  I have no idea where the ninja thing came from, it must have just been on his mind that day! :)  Some of his talents are, skiing, wake boarding, and helping others.  He took his poster in on Monday and shared it with his class.

On tuesday he took in his favorite book and read it to the class.  He chose Star Wars.

On Wednesday he took in one of his favorite things for a special show and tell.  He took his Star Wars light saber.

On Thursday he took in the estimation jar.  You fill it with something to had out to the class and they try to estimate how many things are in the jar.  We filled it with 38 packs of valentines fun fruits.

On Friday his class made him a book about why Porter is special.  We haven't got that back yet, I will update  details from that later.

Porter had fun being star of the week.  He is such a fun kid!

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day

We had a fun Valentines Day.  It was so fun to have it on a Saturday so we could all enjoy the whole day together.  We "heart attacked" each other this year.  I gave everyone a stack of hearts and we had to write what we love about each person on the hearts.  Then we stuck them up in the kitchen.  Porter and Sidney really had fun and still re-read them everyday. 

Some I want to remember are

Porter: "I love Dad because he plays football with me when I need to."

Porter: "I love Mom because she makes my lunch."

Porter: "I love Sidney because she plays wii with me."

Porter: I love Rylee because she is good."

Sidney: "I love Dad because he plays push with me."

Sidney: "I love Mom because she plays with me and makes my lunch."

Sidney: " I love Porter because he plays with me."

Sidney: " I love Rylee because she listens to me when I ask her to clean up."

I enjoyed seeing what they would come up with!  Apparently we just all need to play with Sidney to make her happy!

Sidney and I had fun doing her "Valentines Day Hair".  She loved it and felt so special.

It was a fun day.  We had breakfast together and the kids each had a bag with a few little surprises inside.  Then Allen had a meeting for a little while.  The kids and I made chocolate covered strawberries and marsh mellows while he was gone.  When he was done we worked on our crown moulding in our kitchen.  Happy Valentines Day to us!!  A big Thank You to David for all his help!  The kids had a Primary Activity.  They made valentines and decorated cookies.  My Mom and Dad stopped by and brought some Mrs. Fields treats.  Yummy!  We had a fun dinner with the kids, put them in bed, and Allen went and picked up dinner that we enjoyed together!  

A BIG Happy Valentines Day to my favorite Valentine, Allen!

Cute little piggies

Our little Rylee is 18 months old!  Man has time flown by.  We had to try her first pig tails.  She knew she was pretty cute.

Her other "piggies" are her pig slippers she got for Christmas.  She loves to wear them all the time.  Every once in a while she bends down just to look at them and laugh.  So cute.  Thanks again for the slippers Jean!

She may only be 18 months but she thinks she is one of the big kids.  Here she is all comfy to watch a movie with Porter and Sidney.

(Another milestone.....Rylee finally weighs 20 pounds!  Little peanut) 

We love Colorado

We have been loving the Colorado weather.  It has been in the 60's and we have been taking advantage!  Porter and Sidney playing with the neighbor kids.  

Enjoying a picnic in the back yard.  And we are looking forward to another few days of this great weather.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours!

and a Happy New Year!

Splish Splash, they were takin a bath!

Oh, we love to bath!  One of my favorite things are clean, baby-lotioned kids.  Rylee loves to bath so we had a little fun in the tub!  She is so funny, she thinks she can wash her own hair.  What a big girl, and what a big cheese face!

Sidney had to get in on the action. Her hair is too long to spike up, so we just tied it in a knot up on her head!  What a cutie.

"Jingle Bell Rock"

We are loving Christmas time at our house.  Rylee is really into dancing, and today she learned how to spin around.  (Which is apparently is a prerequisite to being a girl in our family, since Sidney spins all day!)  She thinks she is so big.  Now every time she hears this song she just starts spinning. 

I couldn't resist posting this one with the "break dancing spidy's"!!

Yes, I know that 2 of our children are dressed up as spiderman which is in itself not very "Christmasy".  Sidney loves to play with Porter and sometimes he can talk her into doing what he wants to do.  Which is a good change that involves a lot less high heels and earrings on our 7 year old son.  So let's hear it for Spiderman and Spidergirl!  Don't worry she had a tutu on over the top about 5 min later, and she kept checking her lipgloss.  Oh, Sidney.  

What, no posts for awhile? What are you talking about?

So bear with me as I attempt to catch up on my blogging of family fun and events.  Things have been busy around here.  All good things, but busy!  So I am going back to add a few things in, and yes, I am changing the dates accordingly.  I know that some consider this "blog cheating", but I am over it.  One day my posterity will look back and think that I didn't miss a thing, and that my friends is what it's all about.  So I am good with it :)  The Welch's in review..........

Christmas is coming to Town!!

We are all excited about Christmas around here.  Who doesn't love to snuggle and watch Rudolf the Red nosed Reindeer?  Yes, that is a bowl of jingle bells that Rylee won't let go of.  They started out on the kids christmas tree, but she just can't bring herself to leave them there!  She pulls them off and carries them around in anything she can get her hands on. A bowl, a bag, her little purse, her pockets, her hands, and even a small drawer from the play kitchen (the girl can make it work).  I have decided she is a packer, like me.  Let's just admit it I am an over-packer.  You should see my diaper bag.  I have everything anyone might ever need in there.  Ever.  Just in case you need a little sunscreen in December, or plastic bags or clorox wipes for an emergency (Yes, I said clorox wipes), or in case you need medicine, to color a picture, or comb unruly hair, or just snacks and drinks and diapers to last you if you get stuck somewhere for a week or two.  Hey don't judge, we should be prepared for anything.  So, I just say, "That's my girl!"

Here we are breaking out all the Christmas decorations.  Rylee was in heaven, lights, jingle bells, singing and dancing santas!  What more could a 16 month old want?

The "Kid Tree"!  Magnifico!  Wow, look how sophisticated I am.  Good job, Rand.

Just so you know that little tree looks completely different every day.  Because it gets re-decorated every day.  We like to keep you guessing if you stop by!

A Great Thanksgiving (but with no pictures)

I know, no pictures!  I had my camera and everything, but we just relaxed and enjoyed the company.  It was nice to have some days off, apparently also from documenting family memories with pictures !  We had a really nice Thanksgiving.  My sister and her husband and my brother and our family went to my parents house.  We stayed for 3 days, a fun little mini vacation!  Madagascar 2, James Bond, games, great food, family, and friends!  It was great!  There were all of my family, and my sister's husband, Paul's Family for Thanksgiving.  My mom is a great cook, so like always the food was great.  Jean made some yummy pies and appetizers, and Maxine made her delicious orange rolls.  Allen had a good time playing football that morning, Brrrrrrr.  Porter and Sidney love spending time at Grandma and Grandpa's, and Rylee loves to explore all the fun (and non-Rylee proof) things to play with! 

I love this time of year and look forward to enjoying our kids this Holiday season.  We only wish we could spend more time with our "California" family.  We miss you guys!

What a Trophy Weekend!

We had a fun packed weekend with the end of soccer for Sidney and football for Porter.  These are Sid's team pictures.  She did such a great job and had a lot of fun.

That is her first trophy and it is a very prized possession.  Sidney, "Look, it is SO beautiful!  I will be super careful with it because it is glass."  Me, "It is beautiful, but I don't think it is made of glass."  Sidney, "Look closer!  You didn't see how bea-u-ti-ful it is.  It must be glass!"  I think you can even see her white knuckles locked onto that glass beauty :)

Porter loved flag football this year.  He was totally into it.  He did a great job and learned a lot about being part of a team.  He had interceptions, touch-downs, great catches, great blocks, tackles (pulling of the flags), was a super fast runner, and had some great plays and passes as quarter-back.  Allen helped to coach for a good amount of the season and they had a great time together.   We made it through the season with only one torn bloody fingernail. I doctored that right up and continued to thank my lucky stars that this is Flag Football.  I have been informed by Porter that Dad said he could play tackle football next year and that I am the only hold-up.  Get it together, Mom!  Wow, we ended up with over 300 pictures with this round of soccer and football.  Let's just call that good parenting, O.K.